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Quent Jackson has followed Jason Spade’s every move in business and in poker since their first day as college freshmen. Eight years later, when Jace finally decides Quent is the one man he can’t live without, he sees no reason for that to change.

But as much as Jace believes that poker is life, no one gave Quent the same playbook. After their first passionate night, the real game of love and trust begins, and Jace has been playing alone too long to make teaching the rules easy. Jace only speaks two languages: one of them is sex, and the other one is poker. Between the two, he needs to find a way to convince himself to take a chance on love—and Quent to take a chance on him. It’s a lucky thing they’re good at reading the odds, because they’re playing for keeps, and this is one high-stakes relationship that’s definitely worth the gamble.

Review:

Any time I pick up an Amy Lane book, I plan on reading it twice – the first time to devour and the second time to savor. The exception being Chase in Shadow in which I savored the first time around – which means I must be one sick masochistic fuck since Chase’s story is so emotionally brutal and heartbreaking. But that is all beside the point.

The point is that Gambling Men has a distinction from my other Amy Lane favorites (which if I am to be honest is all of them). That distinction is that I have lost track of how many times I have re-read it. No small feat considering it was released less than three months ago.

Gambling Men has become a comfort read for me. Those days when I want to get away in a book but don’t want to exercise the commitment and dedication necessary when starting a new story I just pick up Gambling Men and lose myself in Jace and Quent.

This is one of Amy’s sexier books. Which shouldn’t be a surprise when you have a character that only knows how to communicate via poker and sex. The hot magic time between these two men will make you audibly gasp, sigh and moan.

Jace’s desire to completely own Quent is nothing short of intense. And it’s not just sexually. It’s small moments like this one:

“Except he didn’t want Quent to wear his own clothes. Jace wanted Quent to wear his clothes. Jace didn’t want anyone else looking at Quentin and thinking, That could be mine!”

Moments like these give you a peek into the possessiveness Jace feels for Quent. Although not a trait I normally admire in my heroes, it works so well because of Quent’s patience and willing submissiveness.

And don’t think Quent doesn’t enjoy it:

“Now?” he squeaked, but Jace’s hands were undoing his belt, and before he knew it, his (Jace’s) slacks were around his knees with his (Jace’s) boxers, and don’t think knowing that he’d been wearing Jace’s clothes like an owned man hadn’t been turning Quent on all day.

But Quent isn’t always the submissive in this relationship. He takes charge when it’s important and when it counts. There are a number of scenes where he takes control in order to show Jace how important he is and how much he loves him. Something that Jace, even being the confident and dominant shark that he is, constantly doubts.

I loved both of these boys but Quent holds a very special place in my heart. I am not sure how it would be possible to not fall in love with Quentin. But I might just feel that way because in many ways I married a Quentin. How lucky am I, right?

In the end, there is no big plot to solve. This is a story of two people navigating a new relationship and learning to turn it into a long-term commitment; which is something I think so many of us can understand. And can I just say that the way these boys show their commitment blows any traditional marriage ceremony and vows out of the water.

If you couldn’t tell, I love this book and can’t recommend it enough. If you are a fan of m/m romances, read this one. It’s absolutely lovely.

Although not the Jace and Quent in my head, these boys are pretty darn close.